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A Weekend on the SHT

This past weekend I decided to try a new adventure that Kurk Papke informed me about while on the NCT group hang back in June. A few of us were talking around the fire about whether we normally took solo trips or with a group. I am normally a solo backpacker simply because I just don't know too many people that enjoy hiking 10-15 miles a day with 20+ pounds strapped to there backs. Also sometimes you just need that time to your self to disconnect. That when Kurk told me about a group here in the Twin Cities that takes backpacking trips a few times a month and I should look into them. So after some lurking on their site(we all know what that's like) and summer full of solo treks, I found a trip that worked with my schedule and decide to take the plunge. It turned out to be a real good time.

I got to meet some really great people, one of whom is a fellow hanger. I told him about the forum so hopefully he will soon join us. (real interesting guy who work at the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center)

After years of mostly solo hikes, twice in one summer I decide to take a chance and meet a group of strangers in the woods and end up making some wonderful memories. I think it speaks volumes to the type of people we have in our outdoor community. Looking forward to the next time we get to share a hang !

Your snake is most likely a Northern Redbelly, and they have a lot in common with stormcrow. First the red part, and also they like slugs. Very common in that neck of the woods.

So you like the new suspension? You and Randy must be the only ones who have done anything with it. I have more, lots more. I will bring more to our SHT hang this fall.

People who enjoy the outdoors tend to have a lot in common. Meeting strangers is one of my most favorite things to do, and when you already know they share some of your interests, it is just that much easier to spend time getting to know them.

Looks like you had a great time Ben. That picture of you in the falls is hilarious. You look like you are a little chilly! LOL. Looking forward to hanging with you again sometime. You are right, it IS hard to find people to match particular hiking styles.

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We'll get up there late tomorrow night and hit the Silver Creek site. It's one of my favs. I think we're going to hike back out and then drive up to Caribou Trail on Thursday. Probably try to stay at Spruce Creek Thursday night then maybe continue on over the next couple of days around the Cascade River and catch the shuttle back to the car on Sunday.

Option #2 is tomorrow night and Thursday the same but then hike out Friday morning and move on down the road to try another section and another one of my favorite camp sites and then do the same on Saturday. What ever we do, we're going to make sure we're near some water as it's going to be a little warmer than usual.

The reason for option #2, my friend would like to see some different sections of trail and have the opportunity to resupply at the car. I did a trip similar to this in the spring with my daughter. It was a little different than what I usually do but fun.

Randy

“Somebody told me it was frightening how much topsoil we are losing each year, but I told that story around the campfire and nobody got scared” - Jack Handy

Hey, that hanging site looked like a spot from a couple of years ago. Except that left tree was dead and it caved in to the right, putting me 6 inches above the ground! Heading up there the last week of August. Have to get my wife out to Egge Lake and into a hammock! Nice pics.

I was South Egge Lake campground two weekends ago. Nice area and great lake, but not a lot of great hanging options within the actual campsite. Have to branch out a bit up the hill to find optimal hanging!

"The more I carry the happier I am in camp; the less I carry the happier I am getting there" - Sgt. Rock